Pope Francis washes the feet of detainees and inmates at Rebibbia Prison in Rome on Holy Thursday, April 2, 2015.
( L'Osservatore Romano)

Jan. 21, 2016

Pope Francis: Women May Have Their Feet Washed at Holy Thursday Mass

Holy Father issues decree allowing female participation in what has until now been a male-only ritual officially.

CNA/EWTN NEWS

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has changed the rules for the Church’s traditional foot-washing ceremony on Holy Thursday, issuing a decree allowing women to participate in what has until now been a ritual officially open only to men.

In a letter addressed to Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, the Pope said that from now on the 12 persons chosen to participate in the ritual of the washing of the feet will be selected “from among all members of the people of God.”

“For some time I have been reflecting on the rite of the washing of the feet, which forms part of the Liturgy of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, with the intention of improving the ways in which it is put into practice, so that we fully express the meaning of the gesture made by Jesus in the Upper Room, his gift of self until the end for the salvation of the world, his boundless charity.”

Francis also stressed that “an adequate explanation of the meaning of the rite itself” ought to be provided for those chosen to participate.

The official decree was signed by Cardinal Sarah on Jan. 6. In it, the cardinal specified that the previous text of the Roman Missal, which says that “the men chosen are accompanied by the ministers,” has now been changed to read: “Those chosen from among the people of God are accompanied by the ministers.”

Pastors can freely choose a group of faithful “that represents the variety and unity of every part of the people of God,” he said, explaining that this group may now consist of “men and women, and suitably of young and elderly, healthy and sick, clerics, consecrated and laity.”

Many parishes around the world had already been including women in the ritual for years; the decree of the Congregation for Divine Worship makes the practice licit.

Francis himself has a habit of including women and non-Catholics in the ritual during his own Holy Thursday liturgies, which have taken place in both a juvenile detention center and a center for the elderly and disabled.

Just after his election as Bishop of Rome in 2013, Pope Francis said Mass at Rome’s Casal del Marmo juvenile detention center, where he washed the feet of 12 youth, including two women and two Muslims.

A year later, he said Holy Thursday Mass at the Don Gnocchi center for the elderly and disabled, where he washed the feet of both young people and elderly, four of whom were women.

Although the Pope has previously chosen to wash the feet of both non-Catholics and non-Christians, Archbishop Arthur Roche, secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship, cautioned that the new change does not necessarily include them.

In Jan. 21 comments to CNA, the archbishop said that the changes are meant for “the local community” and members of “the local parish.”

He said that reading the decree as an invitation for non-Catholics to participate would be a “selective interpretation” of the text, and that while this could be something that happens “in the future,” it’s probably not what the Pope’s decision intended.

However, Archbishop Roche did say that although the decree is meant for the local community, it’s possible that a non-Catholic spouse of a parishioner who regularly attends the Catholic liturgy could be chosen to participate.

The archbishop also touched on the topic of whether non-Christians could be chosen. He pointed to Pope Francis’ decision to wash the feel of Muslim youth in 2013, distinguishing between papal liturgies from the everyday liturgy in “normal” situations.

He explained that when Pope Francis chose to wash the feet of Muslim youth, it was under “special circumstances” and took place in an “unusual setting,” whereas the current decree is intended for the “normal, everyday liturgy in the parish.”

So when reading the decree’s emphasis on the “people of God,” Archbishop Roche said the phrase can be interpreted from its use in Lumen Gentium, the Second Vatican Council's dogmatic constitution on the Church, in which the term refers “specifically to the Church.”

Seems like a harmless item, but taking a long view down the centuries of Roman Catholic Church history, it is spectacular.

Posted by Bob on Monday, Jan, 25, 2016 1:47 PM (EST):

Of course the Church has had to deal with problems as they arose, hence all the Councils these millennia (BTW, the nailing of Luther’s 95 Theses to a church door is a myth).
Vatican II was the only “pastoral” council because there was no emergency the Church had to deal with. For a great treatment of the Council, see Malachi Martin’s The Jesuits.
It will be interesting to see what the pope proclaims after his visit to Sweden later this year to celebrate Luther, won’t it?

Posted by Harry on Saturday, Jan, 23, 2016 8:10 PM (EST):

“Vatican II opened the door to many abuses and many of the clergy simply ignore what remains.”

First Council of Nicaea aftermath: Roman Emperors convert to Arianism, controversy raged on for centuries afterward. Bob is silent about this council.

First Council of Ephesus aftermath: Church of the East breaks off communion with Rome, Nestorian controversy did not end. Bob is silent about this council.

Council of Chalcedon aftermath: Major schism as the Copts break communion, along with the Armenians and Ethiopians as well. Bob is silent about this council.

Fifth Lateran Council aftermath: Just seven months after it ended Luther nailed his 95 Theses, beginning the Protestant Reformation. Bob is silent about this council.

First Vatican Council aftermath: Dissent over Dogmatic definition of Papal Infallibility leading to the establishment of Old Catholic Church. Bob is silent about this council.

Will Bob dare to say that all these councils directly led to the controversies that occurred after each of them ended? Or will he instead ignore history and continue attacking the Second Vatican Council, pretending that the Catholic Church was perfect until 1962?

Posted by Don L on Saturday, Jan, 23, 2016 7:33 AM (EST):

Sorry Harry, that was Maria’s comment I was responding to. Caught by the “grouping-comments monster” again. T’was I that failed to real more closely. Mea culpa.

Posted by Don L on Saturday, Jan, 23, 2016 7:18 AM (EST):

Harrym did you read what you wrote?

“It is amoving renactment of Christ and his disciples.”

I would suggest otherwise. it is a re-enactment of Christ and his apostles.

Apostles=men only.
Disciples=both sexes.

Posted by J.R. Hochstedt on Saturday, Jan, 23, 2016 2:48 AM (EST):

With the exception of Benedict, this has been the pattern of the popes of the Conciliar era: when a particular group reuses to follow the rubrics….give in and pretend it’s been done to increase participation, be “more in keeping with the gospel”, or some other such public relations sloganeering designed to hide indifferentism. Of course none of the people enthusiastically approving cares for anything above their own self-aggrandization—“Look at me, I’m do important I can be among the 12 at the foot washing!”—A ceremony intended to instruct cllergy, especially bishops, in humility, becomes the occasion for saying “Well, at last the patriarchy recognizes women are good enough! Now onto the altar!!” -

Posted by Louis on Friday, Jan, 22, 2016 11:31 PM (EST):

Jewelry, fingernail and toenail polish glisten
Attractive ponytails and hairdos distract the eye
So reminiscent of serving and washing of feet
When our Lord humbly ordinate the first priests
To carry the mission to do the same in His name
While Martha, Mary and the Blessed Mother
Were in the backroom serving unseen
Just saying, if you know what I mean
Many past years of women in foot-washing be
Ignoring outright the Roman Missal decree
Great! Now we are obedience free
Obedience not sacrifice the Lord pleas
What other PC culture be added to be seen?

Posted by Bob on Friday, Jan, 22, 2016 6:06 PM (EST):

Vatican II opened the door to many abuses and many of the clergy simply ignore what remains.
Latin was never meant to be done away with, nor was chant but how much do we hear of either today?
Catholic churches were once a thing of beauty, but they just look like the Protestant ones next door. Can’t find the tabernacle? It’s hidden somewhere (maybe).
Catholic schools used to teach Catholic doctrine, but now it depends on who is running things, for the most part, and how much they know about things Catholic (including history).
When was the last time a bishop actually answered your phone call or wrote you in reply to something? Don’t hold your breath.
Don’t respect the Mass, come in your T-shirts and flip-flops - it’s okay everyone is talking about everything else during Mass anyway.
I was once an altar server, Vietnam veteran and Catholic school teacher who has not run away from bishop nor priest in defending our Faith. I have seen the changes that have weakened our Church and watched the laity leave for the Protestant churches on the one hand and for no Church on the other because the Jesuits and homosexual clergy have ignored tradition and the Magisterium of the Church.
So let the Lutherans receive Holy Communion? It’s now the “ecumenical” thing to do!

Posted by Paul B on Friday, Jan, 22, 2016 5:49 PM (EST):

While there can be virtue to being inclusive, it is not always so. There is also virtue in holding onto the teachings of symbolism. The washing of the twelve men reminded us not just of humbly caring of our neighbor, but also of Christ’s humble service to those he chose and sent forth with a unique role in the community of believers. There have been many changes which I have experienced in my 77 years that went each way,and most that were disruptive were only recognized as such after many years.

Posted by lajmh on Friday, Jan, 22, 2016 4:57 PM (EST):

At my parish, both sexes have had their feet washed for many years…all shapes sizes and colors (as it were).

I did when I converted…a very rare treat.

We also have female and male alter servers, the oldest of them are in high school. The youngest, still in grammar school—-about 8 or 9.

Posted by Dr.Cajetan Coelho on Friday, Jan, 22, 2016 2:12 PM (EST):

The Lord heals. Praised be God.

Posted by Maria on Friday, Jan, 22, 2016 11:21 AM (EST):

Most parishes that I know have been inviting women to have their feet washed for years. I prefer the symbolism associated with the feet washing. It is a moving renactment of Christ and his disciples.

Posted by Harry on Friday, Jan, 22, 2016 10:39 AM (EST):

Pope Saint Pius V approved the removal of rood screens from churches in the 16th century and Bob does not bat an eye.

Pope Saint Pius X abolished the Psalter of Pius V from the Breviary and mandated major reforms to the liturgy of the hours and Bob does not bat an eye.

Pope Venerable Pius XII ordered major reforms to the entire Holy Week liturgy and Bob STILL does not bat an eye.

Pope Francis made one minor change to the Maundy Thursday liturgy and Bob loses his mind.

Posted by Felipe on Friday, Jan, 22, 2016 7:45 AM (EST):

I think this is great. Women’s feet can get just as dirty as men’s feet.

Posted by JanieK on Friday, Jan, 22, 2016 3:13 AM (EST):

@Cullenj
I know of parishes which have washed the feet of both men and women since the 1980’s. It has not led to men wimping out of having their feet washed.

The hypothesis that having female altar servers or having females having their feet washed somehow “feminizes” that role to the point that boys and men are not “man enough” to serve on the altar or have their feet washed, seems like nonsense to me. People who propose that hypothesis seem to have a very low opinion of boys and men as lacking courage - as if they are not the sort of people who would want to nor ought to be priests!

If a clique (of girl servers) are “ganging up” on individual boys to corner the “best jobs”, then the answer is for the priest or MC to deal with that. There has been a general decline in church attendance especially amongst the young, I suspect that boys might be more affected by this than girls as they go through the teenage years.

Posted by Bob on Friday, Jan, 22, 2016 2:36 AM (EST):

So let’s not emulate the 12 apostles during the Last Supper anymore. While we’re at it, let anyone receive Holy Communion, it doesn’t matter anymore, it appears.
Catholic? Oh, that’s so passé, too - we’re just one bunch of happy people singing Kumbaya and let’s not offend anyone by tradition or by what the Bible says, it’s just so hurtful and we can’t have that, can we?

Posted by Steve on Friday, Jan, 22, 2016 1:59 AM (EST):

“At my parish all I see is girl alter servers because it has been feminized and boys do not want to be seen as feminine.”

You have no data to support that sexist hypothesis; on the contrary, it’s more likely that the unique proclivity for priests to serially offend most often against minor boys - including altar boys - might give cause for parents to suggest other youth ministries to their sons.

Posted by Cullenj on Thursday, Jan, 21, 2016 8:55 PM (EST):

At my parish all I see is girl alter servers because it has been feminized and boys do not want to be seen as feminine. As goes with Holy Thursday I’m guessing 12 women and girls getting their feet washed by father. No w

Posted by Steve on Thursday, Jan, 21, 2016 8:23 PM (EST):

How about that, Bp. Morlino? Ready for that salvific change of heart the Gospels mention?

Posted by Don L on Thursday, Jan, 21, 2016 6:51 PM (EST):

No surprises here.

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